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Cover for The Faithful and the Fallen

The Faithful and the Fallen

by John Gwynne

Narrated by Damian Lynch

books
4
pages
2.8k
audio
99h
complete
2013–16

Epic/High Fantasy, Dark/Grimdark Fantasy, Military Fantasy

Ranked #11 in Complete Grimdark

Is it for you?

Young Corban dreams of becoming a warrior in the Banished Lands, unaware an ancient prophecy heralds a catastrophic god-war. When betrayal and violence shatter the peace, he and fighters across rival factions are swept into the brewing conflict.

You'll like it if you enjoy

  • Classic good-versus-evil clashes
  • Multiple perspectives on opposing sides
  • Tactical, visceral shield-wall combat
  • A weak-to-strong young warrior

Good to know

  • A slow start in the opening book
  • A sprawling cast with many viewpoints
  • Frequent character deaths and graphic violence

How it ends: Readers praise the final book as an action-packed conclusion that delivers emotional, definitive closure for the sprawling cast.

Tags

  • Ensemble Cast
  • Multiple POV
  • Weak to Strong
  • Found Family
  • Dark
  • Emotional
  • Slow Burn
  • Heavy Worldbuilding
  • No Stats
  • Political Intrigue
  • War & Strategy
  • Gore

Reading order

  1. Cover for Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen Book 1)

    Book 1: Malice

    648 pages23.5h audio2013

    Malice opens The Faithful and the Fallen in the Banished Lands as ancient monsters reawaken and war begins to consume the kingdoms.

    Young Corban dreams of being a warrior under good King Brenin, while scheming prince Nathair, loyal soldier Veradis, and power-hungry lord Evnis each follow very different paths toward the same prophesied conflict — the ultimate battle between the Bright Star and the Black Sun.

  2. Cover for Valor (The Faithful and the Fallen Book 2)

    Book 2: Valor

    678 pages23.5h audio2014

    Valor raises the stakes as war tears across the Banished Lands: Corban flees his fallen homeland searching for safety while giants and human armies hunt him; Veradis follows his king into increasingly dark moral territory; and Maquin walks through pirate slavers and brutal pit-fights in pursuit of revenge.

    Gwynne widens the cast and deepens the world while ratcheting up the sense of inevitable catastrophe.

  3. Cover for Ruin (The Faithful and the Fallen Book 3)

    Book 3: Ruin

    769 pages28h audio2015

    Ruin plunges the Banished Lands into full apocalyptic war as the Kadoshim demons make their move and Corban finally stops running, rallying a desperate warband for a march to the legendary fortress of Drassil.

    Multiple storylines converge explosively as Maquin hunts his enemies, Queen Edana finds unlikely allies in a swamp, and Nathair — deceived and furious — begins to understand the trap he has walked into.

  4. Cover for Wrath (The Faithful and the Fallen Book 4)

    Book 4: Wrath

    715 pages23h audio2016

    Wrath brings the four-book saga to its apocalyptic conclusion as Nathair's forces hold the fortress of Drassil and three of the Seven Treasures — and Asroth's demon horde stands ready to enter the world of flesh.

    Corban, held prisoner by warrior giants, must forge an alliance with competing factions before everything and everyone he loves is consumed by the coming darkness, in a finale that rewards every page of investment.

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